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Global phones

19 June 1999

The next generation of mobile phones looks likely to use a single, global
technology. Currently, different systems are used in different parts of the
world, such as the Global Mobile System that is predominant in Europe but
nevertheless incompatible with two of the US standards. Nine major phone
companies, including AT&T and British Telecom, have agreed to work together
to produce a Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS). This move is the first
positive step towards a truly universal standard, as there were fears that UMTS
would be less than universal despite its name. The new standard will also cover
wireless video and Internet services.